The Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwandan-backed M23 rebels have restarted peace talks in Doha, Qatar, in a bid to end the violence that has plagued eastern Congo for decades.
The talks, mediated by Qatar, began on May 3 and are being held in a positive atmosphere, with both parties expressing optimism about the dialogue.
However, M23 rebels have expressed concerns that the government delegation lacks the authority to make key decisions.
The conflict in eastern Congo has resulted in thousands of deaths and the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people.
According to the UN humanitarian office, at least 30,000 people have been displaced in North Kivu province since Friday due to armed clashes.
The US is also pushing for peace between Congo and Rwanda, with plans to finalize bilateral economic packages by July. These deals aim to bring billions of dollars of Western investment to the region, rich in critical minerals.
Massad Boulos, US President Donald Trump’s senior adviser for Africa, highlighted the potential economic benefits of the deal.
Despite the progress in talks, participants previously complained that discussions quickly became bogged down in technical details.
Additionally, Rwanda’s involvement with M23 remains a point of contention, with the UN and Western governments accusing Rwanda of providing arms and troops to the rebels, which Rwanda denies.
